Sunday, August 3, 2008

Pretty Things Spotlight: * Rachel Rene *

UPDATE:BLUE VIOLET is the lucky winner of the yummy treats from Rachel Rene...CONGRATULATIONS!...and a special "Thank You" to everyone who entered! Be sure to enter the new give-a-way {there's a link to it on the right side of this blog}.

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Christine of Rachel Rene loves to experiment and create yummy scents for us to delight in...and with scents like Mocha Choca Latte, Strawberry Champagne and Caramel Apple, who wouldn't want to indulge?

Passionate about premium quality, all of Rachel Rene's products are handmade by Christine in small batches to ensure top quality and freshness.

She formulates her body products and soaps with top quality ingredients, including wunderful oils and butters so that they retain their natural glycerin, which wraps your skin with enough moisture so that there is no need for lotion after the bath. And with such busy schedules these days, who wouldn't like to skip a step in our beauty regime?

"My kids inspire me. They like to watch me make soap and bath bombs and have a way of telling me (no matter what I think) that everything I make is beautiful in some way."

★Tell us a bit about yourself…My name is Christine Davis and I live on a farm in Tiskilwa, Illinois – say that ten times fast! I’ve been married for almost 7 years and have 2 children – Rachel and Jack. I named my company after my daughter, Rachel Rene. She’s my biggest fan!

★What inspires you? My kids inspire me. They like to watch me make soap and bath bombs and have a way of telling me (no matter what I think) that everything I make is beautiful in some way. Lately my daughter has been renaming my soaps and most of them are kooky names that I laugh at and say “good one, honey” but sometimes she comes up with something catchy and I’ll base a soap on that name. Yesterday she called my Neroli Lime soap “Sunny Ground” – and I liked it, but it didn’t represent that particular soap so I’m trying to find a nice earthy grassy citrus scent to make.

★Apart from creating things, what do you do for fun?I love to read and ride horses (we have 3) and mostly just spend time with my family. We’ll barbecue and hang out in the yard most of the time or play Bocce Ball, which my kids just learned and love! Normal things I guess...although I’m not opposed to going to a bar every now and again and performing a terrible rendition of "Dancing Queen" on karaoke night! :)

★What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?I was interviewed at a craft show for the local paper...they brought a photographer and everything. I couldn’t believe it. When the paper came out, there I was on the front page of the Community section in full color with my soaps - so I was just floored! Something I’ll never forget for sure!

★Any advice for fellow artists...Love what you do and do what you love. Sometimes when I get down and out (it happens to everyone), I’ll simply rearrange my furniture or craft room to be “more efficient” and then I feel better. That was my mom’s fix for everything. Depressed: rearrange the front room. Lonely: rearrange your bedroom. Bored: rearrange the kitchen cabinets! My poor father couldn’t find anything ever and always walked into stuff when he came home from work at night, but mom was always happy!

★ Where have you traveled or where would you like to travel? Why?I’ve only been to Wisconsin and Missouri – I don’t fly. I’m scared of planes, so I’m limited as to where I’ll go. I would love to go out west and camp under the stars and ride horses along the mountains though. Hubby and I figure once the kids are grown (a gazillion years from now) we’ll get an RV and go cruisin’!

★Any future plans for your business?I would love to open a small shop in town on Main Street. It’s always been the goal I’ve looked ahead to since I started making soap. So until then, I’m working on my customer base both locally and online. I’ll continue to provide the best products and customer service that I possibly can – those things will never change! I keep trying to experiment with different scents, ideas, colors, designs. I’m having a blast and always trying to improve everything. I’m bringing in a whole new bunch of soaps and fragrances and will be adding new ones weekly for the next month or so and trying out some new recipes!

This give-a-way winner, BLUE VIOLET, is in for an extra special treat. Christine of Rachel Rene will be sending her 3 sweet items from her shoppe: 4 bath bombs in White Ginger & Amber, Pure Rain & Apples-n-Spice and French Vanilla, a 4oz. bar of her Frosted Butter Cream scented soap and an 8oz soy candle in her Tropical Vacation scent.How very yummy!

I like the sample size bath bombs. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12003777I can never bring myself to take a $6 bath, and it's a comical challenge to pull the bomb out of the water in time, and find a place for it to dry. These would be great.

The Black Raspberry Vanilla Scented Body Mousse made with Shea Butter just makes my skin thirsty!! I can smell the rich fruity scent of raspberries and the creamy vanilla nourshing my arms and legs! Thank you for the contest!txgigggles@yahoo.comSharon Harmon :)

Everything sounds so delightful! I want to remember this sight for gift giving. Who wouldn't love receiving something from there? I guess my personal fav might be apples and spice because I love that small but there are many others I would probably like equally well.

My favorite item from Rachel Rene's Etsy Shoppe is the Lavender Sugar Scrub 4.5 oz. Jar! Not only does it sound like it must smell wonderful, but I am all about having smooth and silky skin and I just know this product can do the trick! I would love to try Christine's products!joannaonthelake[at]gmail.com

The Black Raspberry Vanilla Sugar Scrub caught my eye. I think it would smell yummy!Thanks for the opportunity to enter this great giveaway. What a great assortment of fragrances. I would love to try them all.

Everything looks and sounds so good it's hard to decide on just one. I love Sandalwood so that would have to be one choice but the Mocha Choca Latte looks and sounds yummy. I have a collection of varying scented soaps and I'd love to add these.

I would love to try the SATSUMA Scented Crystal Air Freshener - Wonderful combo of Oranges and Grapefruit. She mentioned how long they last and the fact her husband has had one in his truck for months. That's what I need it for, to freshen up the truck. Lots of cool smells on her website!

Oooooooh what a wonderful website for soap. I have never seen such beautiful soap bars. I know I live in Florida but who doesn't like a Tropical escape. I really like the Tropical Vacation soap bar. I subscribed and thank-you for the contest

These seriously look good enough to eat !!I would love the Black Raspberry and the Baby Powder and the Chocolate bar and .....Thank you so much for offering this wonderful giveaway.I would LOVE to win !!

Dirty Pretty Things to Ponder features my rants, raves, inspirations & interesting little finds in Art, Fashion, Home, Celebrity & Gossip.Look for all the pretty things I love & the not so pretty things we all love to hate.

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